The Agency Brings on John Stanaland Group in Corona del Mar

Changes are afoot in coastal Orange County, with The Agency making big moves for its Corona del Mar office to kick off the year.

The Mauricio Umansky-led brokerage said it brought on luxury O.C. veteran John Stanaland and his six-person team from Douglas Elliman to The Agency’s Corona del Mar office. Meanwhile, Craig Knizek will expand his duties to now include managing director of Corona del Mar, adding to his responsibilities as managing partner for The Agency’s Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Calabasas offices. The three San Fernando Valley offices alone generate $1.6 billion in sales annually, according to the brokerage.

With the latest additions, the office’s headcount rises to 55 agents.

“Orange County continues to be a cornerstone market for The Agency, and we’re seeing that momentum reflected in both the level of business coming through the office and the talent choosing to join us,” Umansky said in a statement to The Real Deal.

The moves are aimed at positioning the brokerage for “long-term impact in the region,” Umansky added.

Stanaland is a big get for the brokerage, with his team bringing more than 50 listings and decades of heritage doing business in coastal Orange County real estate.

The broker’s family ties in Laguna Beach real estate trace back to 1919 with his great-great-grandfather. Since that time, the family has touched everything from real estate sales and development to the legal and financial sides.

Stanaland said in a statement that The Agency embodies the principles of “honesty, integrity and never-yielding tenacity,” pushing him toward the change of scenery.

The broker associate, who counts more than $4.8 billion in career sales, was most recently with Elliman, where his group had been since 2023 when they made the move from Villa Real Estate.

At the top of Stanaland’s active listings is 32181 Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, which is asking $50 million, or $8,598 per square foot. The oceanfront estate is the priciest home on the market in Laguna Beach currently. There’s also 31091 Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, which is priced at $19.9 million, or $4,625 per square foot.

Stanaland’s group includes business partner Logan Montgomery, Zachary Balaban, Traci Landis and Luke Rogers, in addition to his son and “Selling the OC” cast member Tyler Stanaland.

Knizek, who has been with the brokerage since its 2011 founding, is the former producer of “Mad About You” and “The Simpsons” original associate producer, with two decades of experience in film and television before jumping into real estate. He replaced Mike Schwartz, who was leading the Corona del Mar office in an interim capacity, while also serving as regional senior vice president as The Agency searched for a permanent managing director.